Connecting With Young People Where They Are
Diverse Youth NI’s Community Outreach Programme takes youth work beyond our hubs and into the heart of local neighbourhoods across Belfast. Through street-based engagement, community events, partnership programmes and targeted outreach sessions, we work to ensure that young people from minority ethnic, newcomer and multicultural backgrounds feel supported, included and connected—no matter where they live.
Our goal is simple: meet young people where they are, build trust and create pathways into safe, meaningful opportunities.
What Community Outreach Means to Us
Community outreach is a key part of DYNI’s mission to make youth work accessible to all. Many young people face barriers to participation in traditional youth centres or programmes, including:
Transport challenges
Family responsibilities
Language barriers
Fear of discrimination or bullying
Lack of awareness of available support
Cultural unfamiliarity with youth services
Our outreach team works directly within local communities to remove these barriers and ensure young people have safe, supportive points of connection close to home.
What We Do in Community Outreach
1. Street-Based Youth Work
Engaging safely with young people in parks, public spaces, estates and local gathering points.
We build relationships, offer support and signpost to programmes, services and opportunities.
2. Community Centre Partnerships
Regular outreach sessions delivered in partnership with community centres, women’s groups, faith groups and local organisations.
These sessions focus on:
Creative activities
Confidence and wellbeing
Culture and identity
Social action
Homework and education support
Sport and recreation
3. Pop-Up Youth Sessions
Short-term or one-off sessions in areas where young people have limited access to youth work.
Activities include games, arts, sports, open discussion spaces and wellbeing activities.
4. Cultural & Newcomer Support
Connecting with newcomer families and children through:
Translation and orientation support
Help understanding services
Cultural bridge-building
School transition tips
Relationship-building with parents
5. Partnership Events
We work with community groups, housing associations, libraries, charities, youth providers and civic institutions to deliver:
Multi-cultural festivals
Anti-hate crime campaigns
Mental health awareness events
Creative workshops
Sports outreach days
Community consultations
These events strengthen community bonds and amplify youth voice in local decision-making.
6. Crisis Support & Signposting
Where appropriate, youth workers offer early intervention support, connecting young people to services related to:
Mental health
Safety and safeguarding
Education
Housing or community issues
Integration and wellbeing
Our Outreach Approach
DYNI’s outreach work is grounded in five core principles:
- Relationship First
Trust is the foundation of all youth work. We take time to listen, understand and build genuine connections.
- Cultural Sensitivity
We understand the experiences of minority ethnic and newcomer young people, adapting our approaches to their cultural, linguistic and social needs.
- Accessibility
If young people cannot get to the youth centre, we bring the youth centre to them.
- Safety and Support
Our team creates safe spaces—physically and emotionally—where young people feel respected and protected.
- Youth-Led Practice
Young people shape the sessions, identify issues in their communities and lead local projects that matter to them.
Impact of Our Community Outreach
Communities engaged through outreach often experience:
Stronger youth participation
Increased confidence and social connection among young people
Greater cultural understanding between local residents
Reduced isolation for newcomer families
Early identification of young people who need additional support
Pathways into education, wellbeing and leadership programmes
More inclusive and welcoming community spaces
Our outreach work helps build safer, more connected neighbourhoods where every young person feels they belong.
Partner With Us
We are always open to working with community organisations, schools, housing associations, local groups and statutory bodies to expand our outreach efforts.
- info@diverseyouthni.com
If your community would benefit from sessions or partnership outreach, please get in touch.